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Open-end spun yarn from ACG is being used by MVF to develop new textile products.

Taking advantage of strengths and building on individual areas of expertise,
Mission Valley Fabrics (MVF) and American Cotton Growers (ACG), which comprise
the Textile Division of Plains Cotton Cooperative Association, are in the early
stages of a cooperative effort that should prove mutually beneficial to both
mills for many years to come.

ACG focuses on the production of heavy-weight denim for Levi Strauss &
Co. (LS&CO.), and MVF is a vertically-integrated manufacturer of yarn-dyed
woven fabrics. PCCA recognized that forming a union between the two mills would
result in the ability to produce fabrics that span much of the broad textile
spectrum, meeting the needs of many customers and fulfilling the aim of its
mission: to add significant value to the cotton marketed for our members by
being the supplier of choice to our business partners in terms of quality,
service and value.

According to PCCA Product Development Manager Jerry Jones, MVF is producing
sample yarn for the new 2905 denim style that ACG has been asked to produce for
LS&CO. On the other side, ACG is producing an open-end yarn for some of
MVF's production mix as well as providing indigo dyeing for a light-weight denim
line being developed at MVF.

Ring-spun yarn from MVF is packaged for shipment to ACG.photo by John Johnson

Jerry Clark, MVF's director of product development, notes that while any new
partnership runs into some roadblocks on the way to becoming fully operational,
the new "marriage" between ACG and MVF will create a niche market for MVF's new
textile line at a time when apparel sales are somewhat soft.

Improvements made to existing machines at ACG have aided in the material
exchange by improving productivity. In mid-September, a project was completed
that added 81 Omni Airjet Looms, replacing 247 Picanol PGW looms at about a
three-to-one ratio of old machines to new. ACG plant manager Danny Davis says
the mill has witnessed an increase in denim quality and a decrease in production
costs resulting from the new looms.

MVF's ring spinning frames.

The partnership between MVF and ACG has required a great deal of planning in
order to meet the needs of the two groups involved.

"We spend a lot of time working with scheduling," Davis said,
adding that ACG attempts to time the projects they work on efficiently in order
to finish the production and deliver the desired goods on a deadline, all the
time juggling its regular day-to-day tasks.

New light-weight denim samples being marketed by MVF.

Davis also said the trade-off of supplies creates a need for new material
handeling capabilities in some parts of the two operations as well as training
to handle the new materials. For example, ACG currently is looking into
purchasing new yarn stacking devices to transport and handle the yarn being
transferred between the two locations.

As Davis observes, the cooperation between ACG and MVF provides strength,
something the two groups need as they fulfill their roles in PCCA's mission.
Jones agreed, adding that, "the synergy will be very beneficial to both
locations."